Storyboard: 20 Years Later, a Look Back at Wired‘s Beginning

Wired Issue No. 1

The first issue of Wired hit newsstands almost two decades ago. This inaugural edition is now available digitally on tablets, complete with behind-the-scenes notes and pop-up annotations—even for the ads. (Beware the crowded, multi-font design of the early ’90s.) Plus: An oral history that interviews people who played a key role in getting that first issue out the door.

Ted Greenwald, former Wired senior editor and current contributor, talks about his work on the oral history to current senior editor Adam Rogers. He also mentions the drama that comes with launching a journalistic outlet from scratch. Greenwald says: “The lesson, to me, is when you have a vision and you feel sure about it, you cannot afford to take no for an answer.” Back then, some forecasted that the magazine could have a big impact on tech culture, calling the magazine the “punk rock” of computer publications. Wired founder Louis Rossetto disagreed, though. To him, the magazine was like The Beatles.

Originally released in March 1993, issue 1 of Wired is available on tablets now.